Fall prescribed fires planned on Rio Grande National Forest

MONTE VISTA The San Luis Valley Interagency Fire Management Unit announced today their plans to conduct several prescribed fires this fall on the Rio Grande National Forest. Ignitions will take place only if conditions are favorable and will meet burn plan parameters. These beneficial burns include:

• English Valley: This 1200-acre prescribed fire will take place on the Divide Ranger District, approximately five miles north of Del Norte, CO. The purpose of this burn is to rejuvenate grass and shrub cover to improve pronghorn habitat.

• Bighorn/Stateline Unit 5: Located 10 miles southwest of Antonito, CO, this 565-acre project on the Conejos Peak District has been previously hand-thinned with chainsaws. Project objectives are to target the slash areas to improve deer and elk winter range.

• Buffalo Pass: Located approximately 20 miles west of Saguache, CO, this 250-acre burn is adjacent to the Buffalo Pass Campground on the Saguache Ranger District. The purpose of the burn is to improve elk habitat and recreational hunting opportunities.

Residents and visitors will likely see smoke coming from these areas for several hours each day during burn operations. After ignitions, the areas will continue to smolder and burn, typically with lower intensity. Burn area maps will be posted on the roads leading into the project areas. Local residents will be contacted prior to initiation of the prescribed burns.

Fire crews may also be assisting the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service with planned San Luis Valley prescribed burns that will be announced separately.

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health

For more information on the prescribed fires, please contact Kent Smith at (719) 850-1064.

For information on the Rio Grande National Forest, call (719) 852-5941, visit the forest website, or follow us on our Facebook page or Twitter.